Dynamites are small wonders
LIBY Dynamites Basketball Club Under-18 girls team became the first winners of the North-East Basketball Boards Top 4 competition held in Dunshaughlin on Sunday last.
Having to play two of the top teams within the region and with the smallest squad of players, Dynamites first game was against East Cavan Eagles from Virginia.
Eagles had denied Liby Dynamites the top spot in the league just days before with a 3-point win in extra time, which allowed Black Water Steelers from Monaghan take the league honours.
To have any chance of balancing the books Dynamites first had to beat Eagles in the first semi-final to set up a showdown with league winners Steelers in the final later that day.
With a large support, Eagles started the game well and proceeded to pressure the Dynamites girls who mastered anything they could throw at them. The Dynamites were magnificent counteracting every move Eagles had and with team Captain Rachael Mc Nally to the fore nothing was made easy for Eagles as Dynamites gave one of the most professional team performances seen within the region for a long time.
Outstanding shooting from Eimear Branigan, Jewell May Rosagran and Amy Kerley powered Dynamites ahead, and with Aoife O’Brien under the boards Eagles had no answer to an outstanding team performance.
Liby Dynamites ran out comfortable winners and would now meet Black Water Steelers in the Final.
Black Water Steelers are a well-established club with several Irish international players.
This game was Dynamites last game of the season and to have any chance of winning Dynamites needed to be at their very best. A masterclass of defending and powerful offensive movement and finishing brought the title back to North Louth, with Steelers held to their lowest score all season Liby Dynamites are NEBB Top 4 Champions 2017.
This was a huge achievement for the Liby Dynamites team, with a small but committed squad beating the bigger Cavan and Monaghan outfits. at Ireland’s surfing Mecca, the West Clare town of Lahinch.
Blackrock man Ronan made the long drive from Dundalk determined to retain his title for the fourth and final time. Last weekend’s high winds and wave swells mixed with snow showersers ensured very chal-challenging conditions.
Yet, it is circumstances such as these in which exper- tise, experience and training come into their own. The skill in harnessing nature’s power to drive rider and board across the waves is both impressive and visually stunning. Drawing on his nearlyly 25 years of competition around Ireland and abroad the Dundalk IT man prevailed once again overran his rivals to claim victory.